2 navy ships in Oman for Mideast OFW repatriation

TWo Philippine Navy ships sent to the Middle East to help in the repatriation of Filipinos in the tension-gripped states in the region, especially Iraq, have already arrived in oman.

The BRP Davao Del Sur (LD 602) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS 16) carrying the Naval Task Force (NTF) 82 contingent docked at the Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat, oman, late on Wednesday afternoon.

The vessels were sent to the Middle East to help bring home Filipinos from Iraq and Libya who have been affected by tensions brought by the recent killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani by United States forces in Iraq.

The head of the Philippine mission, Marine Col. Noel Beleran, along with the commanding officers of the LD 602 and PS16, called on Philippine Ambassador to oman Narciso Castañeda upon their arrival in Muscat.

“The two navy vessels will serve as a sea-based platform for the government to process and facilitate the repatriation of displaced oFWs,” Navy Public Affairs Director Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas said.

“Specifics and other details about the repatriation are expected to be finalized after the scheduled joint AFP-PNP command conference to be presided by the Commander In Chief, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in Malacañang in which NTF 82 will take part via video teleconferencing together with Amb. Castañeda,” she added.

According to Roxas, Beleran reported that the Navy contingent is “safe and sound” in oman and “the troops were very happy and in high spirits since this event serves as another milestone for our Navy that we can already transcend across the deep waters of Indian ocean or the Arabian Sea.”

Beleran gave assurances that the sailors and marines “are ready to assist and support the government’s effort in repatriating our unsung heroes, the oFWs from the Middle East conflict.”